Evaluation of the Roche SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test in samples from vaccinated individuals

Objective The study aimed to establish the performance of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG and IgM) and the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay in vaccinated individuals. Methods A panel of serum samples from Boca Biolistics was utilized to assess antibodies following vaccination, consisting of samples drawn prior to vaccination, after the first dose, or at least 14 days after the second dose of Moderna mRNA-1273 or Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccines. Agreement between the two methods was measured and stratified by test evaluator and assay lot. Results Agreement between the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) and Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay qualitative measurements at the different assessment points for both mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 ranged between 97.06% (95% confidence interval [CI] 84.67, 99.93) to 100% (95% CI 82.35, 100). Agreement of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) with the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay was not highly influenced by either lot or evaluator. There was a medium-to-strong correlation between the semi-quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) result and quantitative Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay in samples taken after both doses of the vaccines, with higher intensity bands being associated with higher total anti-S antibody titer (mRNA-1273, p=0.0019; BNT162b2, p<0.0001). Conclusion Semi-quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) and quantitative Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay correlated well, suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) is helpful in understanding the immune response post-vaccination. The current data support the use of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antibody Test (IgG) in the vaccinated population.

Conceptualizing sovereignty and its relation to the State, refugees, and international relations

This MRP seeks to illustrate why and how states circumstantially employ their sovereignty in regards to international forced migration. My thesis is, that states, dependent on their degree of sovereignty, are negligent in their capacity to accommodate refugees. In pursuing this thesis, I examine state sovereignty from the International Relations framework and conceptualize sovereignty as a derivative of the state. Furthermore, I situate ‘the state’ with political realism; and align its opposing paradigm, political idealism, with the United Nations. Using qualitative measurements of state sovereignty, I find that although states have signed international agreements that hold them accountable to facilitate in the resettlement of refugees when international conflict ensues, states claim that because refugees threaten security, as well as the economic, political, social integrity of the state, they cannot and will not accept them. Key words: sovereignty, the state, refugees, International Relations, the United Nations

Conceptualizing sovereignty and its relation to the State, refugees, and international relations

This MRP seeks to illustrate why and how states circumstantially employ their sovereignty in regards to international forced migration. My thesis is, that states, dependent on their degree of sovereignty, are negligent in their capacity to accommodate refugees. In pursuing this thesis, I examine state sovereignty from the International Relations framework and conceptualize sovereignty as a derivative of the state. Furthermore, I situate ‘the state’ with political realism; and align its opposing paradigm, political idealism, with the United Nations. Using qualitative measurements of state sovereignty, I find that although states have signed international agreements that hold them accountable to facilitate in the resettlement of refugees when international conflict ensues, states claim that because refugees threaten security, as well as the economic, political, social integrity of the state, they cannot and will not accept them. Key words: sovereignty, the state, refugees, International Relations, the United Nations

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SKY QUALITY AND METEOROLOGICAL VARIABLES DURING THE TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ON 14-15 APRIL 2014 AND THEIR EFFECT ON QUALITATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF THE BORTLE SCALE

A total lunar eclipse plausibly has an influence on the variation of some environmental physical parameters, specifically on the conditions of the sky brightness, humidity and temperature. During the eclipse on 14th - 15th April 2014, these parameters were measured with a photometer and a weather station. The obtained results allow the comparison, practically, of the optimal conditions for observational astronomy work in the Tatacoa desert and, therefore, to certify it as suitable place to develop night sky astronomical observations. This investigation determined, to some extent, the suitability of this place to carry out astronomical work and research within the optical range. Thus, the changes recorded during the astronomical phenomenon allowed the classification of the sky based on the Bortle Scale.

Corrosion Studies using the Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) - A Brief Review

Background: The Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique is an important technique in the field of corrosion. The technique has helped researchers to understand corrosion mechanisms in real time, due to the availability of commercial systems, which are user friendly, having a high degree of sensitivity and reliability. The technique provides quantitative and qualitative measurements by utilising a vibrating probe at a fixed height over the sample. Objective: The paper provides a basic understanding of the technique, including a brief history, development, method of measurement and then highlighting some applications of the technique. Conclusion: The paper shows the usefulness of the technique and its’ importance in corrosion research.

The Development of Coherent Speech in Elementary School Students in The Process of Constructive and Artistic Activity

The article examines the development of speech in elementary school students. The research objective is to determine the status of coherent speech development in 3rd-grade students in the process of constructive and artistic activity. The article defines the criteria (structural and compositional, communicative and productive, and communicative and creative), indicators, and levels of development of coherent speech in elementary school students in the process of constructive and artistic activity. Each criterion includes a group of qualitative content-disclosing indicators and characterizes the achievements of students in the intended type of activity. Based on this, the authors have developed a methodological tool that allows them to diagnose coherent speech development in 3rd-grade students in the process of constructive and artistic activity and to conduct a precise quantitative differentiation by high, sufficient, medium, and low levels of coherent speech formation with specific characteristics for qualitative measurements that open up prospects for the development of appropriate effective measures for improving the quality of training students for such activity.

The Readiness of Future Specialists of Preschool Education to Creative Self-Realization in Professional Activity

The article is devoted to the issue of future specialists of preschool education training to creative self-realization in professional activity. The authors of the article reveal the pedagogical diagnostics of readiness to creative self-realization in professional activity of higher educational institutions’ students. The purpose of the study is to reveal the results of pedagogical diagnostics of future specialists of preschool education readiness to creative self-realization in professional activity. A diagnostic methodology and criteria of future specialists of preschool education to creative self-realization in professional activity readiness has developed. The criteria of future specialists of preschool education to creative self-realization in professional activity readiness are: motivational and valuable, creative activity, assessment and reflective. Each criterion includes a group of quality indicators. The methodological tools was developed, which was used for pedagogical diagnostics of this professional quality forming in future specialists of preschool education. The experimental study helped to identify the characteristics of qualitative measurements for primary, reproductive and creative levels of readiness of future preschool teachers’ professional training. We see the prospect of further research in the development of methodology of future specialists of preschool education preparing to creative self-realization in professional activity.